Background: THREE BLOCKS OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSES WERE BURNED TO THE GROUND IN CROWDED PASAY CITY, MANILA, THE PHILIPPINES, ON WEDNESDAY LAST (28 FEBRUARY). AT THE HEIGHT OF THE FIRE, FIVE AMERICAN SOLDIERS WERE INJURED AS THEY HELPED VICTIMS TO SALVAGE THEIR BELONGINGS. THE FIRE BLAZED FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS, LEAVING SOME 1,000 PEOPLE HOMELESS.

THE FIRE IS THOUGHT TO HAVE STARTED IN ONE OF THE HOUSES, AND QUICKLY SPREAD THROUGH THE REST OF THE LIGHT-TIMBERED BUILDINGS. AT ONE STAGE FIREMEN RAN OUT OF WATER TO FIGHT THE FLAMES, AND WERE OBLIGED TO USE SEA-WATER, RUSHED IN BY EIGHT FIRE TRUCKS. DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT GBP100,000 STERLING (1 MILLION PESOS).

IRONICALLY, THE FIRE HIT PASAY JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE NATIONWIDE OBSERVANCE OF FIRE PREVENTION WEEK - ITS THEME 'STOP BURNING OUR FUTURE'.